Suspicious Fire At Falkirk Club

A large fire that destroyed a pub and social club is being treated as suspicious.

Four fire crews were called to the "well-developed fire'' at the Phoenix Bar in Whitecross, Falkirk, at around 2.30am on Thursday.

Around 16 firefighters from Bo'ness, Falkirk, Larbert and Linlithgow tackled the flames and searched the building for any casualties.

No-one was injured but police and fire investigators are looking into the cause of the blaze.

A Police Scotland spokesman said: "Police in Falkirk are investigating following a suspicious fire in Whitecross, near Falkirk, that took place around 2.30am on Thursday.

"A joint inquiry is being undertaken by Police Scotland and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.''

A spokeswoman from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: ``Crews found a well-developed fire within a single-storey building being used as a pub and social club and firefighters wearing breathing apparatus immediately began tackling the blaze and searching for anyone inside.

"`Crews remain at the scene dampening down the fire to bring the incident to a safe resolution.''

The latest statistics from admissions body Ucas, published as pupils south of the border received exam results on Thursday, outline that 16.5% of 18-year-old applicants from England accepted to university were from the poorest areas.